Tile structure



Nov. 22, 1927.

N. H. CEDERQUIST TILE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 15 1926 J/ 5 Q m/w/ t Z [w E 0 o 6 N [V M Q a M 4 o z 2 F M T Z 7 A J O o o 1313. a M m 7 W O 0 if 0 0 Z 3 3 e Z V 7 009 0 9 0/ 1 l f if Y H I N g C i r a g gmnfi 0 Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES NILS HJCEDEBQUIS'I, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

TILE STRUCTURE.

Application filed December 15, 1926. Serial 'No. 154,899.

This invention relates to a tile structure, adapted to be built by mounting ceramic or other ornamental tile on a foundation frame of suitable size and Shape, and then erecting the resulting panels in the desired form.

This is a very convenient method of building ornamental counters, for soda fountains, and the like, but my invention is by no means restricted to such, it being equally applicable to the construction of tile store fronts, tile walls such as are commonly used in bath rooms, tile floors, and many other structures.

Heretofore, practically all ornamental 'tile has been applied to a structure after it 1 was built, provision, of course, having been made for such application. It is usually set in a plastic cementitious mixture or mortar applied to the surface of such structure, this work requiring an experienced tile setter, as well as the making of the mortar near the place and time where the work is to be done. Tile setters receive large wages and in many localities are not available unless brought from some distant point; under conditions prevailing on the job they frequently can not Work to advanta e, all of which renders the cost of such wor very high. The making of comparatively small quantities of mortar is also a troublesome process.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a structure on which the tile set ting is done at a central point and under good working conditions. While some panels have been made with tile applied, and

' then set up elsewhere, such panels have been extremely heavy, lacking in' strength and difficult of assembly. It ,is accordingly another object of this invention to provide such a anel which is light, strong and may 49 be rea ily set up. A third object of this invention is the provision of panel sections so constructed that they may be readily assembled to form the complete structure, by one of average intelligence without special tools or training, such structure upon completion being strong and substantial. A fourth object of this invention is to provide such panels in which any distortion of the frame is prevented from cracking or damaging the tile work thereon.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means ofthe embodimentof my invention shown in the accompanying draw- 5 ing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fragment of a structure built in accordance with my invention, certain parts bein broken away to better illustrate the detai s of construction, the particular structure in this case being a lunch, or soda .fountain, counter; Fig. 2 is a section as seen on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the intermediate portion being broken away; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the method of connecting adjacent panels; and Fig. 4: is a section as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the foundation frame of apanel is generally indicated by 5. A slab or back is indicated by 6; this may be built up as high as wanted with planks of suitable width and thickness and of length approximately equal to the desired length of panel. These planks are Joined together by any preferred type of joint, as a tongue and groove joint, and gluing. Battens 7 are placed across the back at intervals to stifien the slab and keep it flat. As a further preventive of expansion and distortion, I provide saw cuts 8, in the front of the slab and leaving a small portion 9 uncut at the back. Near the bottom is a similar saw cut 10 andone of lesser depth 11, for a purpose later described. To the front of the slab is secured, as with nails, a thin flexible sheet of neutralized material 12, to form an attachment member for the tiles. Byneutralized material is meant one which will not be deformed by changing atmospheric conditions; three ply Wood, wherein thin sheets of Wood with the grain at right angles in successive layers, are glued together, is such a material. Between the slab and sheet 12 is a heavy coating of plastic material, preferably water- 'proof, as asphaltum, indicated by 13, which forms a cushion allowing the strains set up in the tile face incident to its attachment hereon to 'be absorbed by the said sheet. This obviates all cracking or flaking of the tile. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that the sheet 12 does not cover the entire surface of the slab, but is supplemented above and below by thicker sheets 14 and 15 of the same material. These are merely to produce ornamental effects in the finished tile surface, and for all practical pur oses a single sheet of uniform thickness cou d be used.

Tile 16, is mounted on the front of the attachment members, being secured thereto by an elastic chemical compound on its undersurface. A cementitious mixture is then run in the openings between the tile, pointed in the usual manner and allowed to set. Itwill be understood that during these assembling operations the panel is in a substantially horlzontal position.

Still referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bottom row of tile overhangs sheet 15 forming a pocket 18 at the back of which is saw cut 10. This pocket is partly filled with a plastic water proof material 19, such as asphaltum, the saw out being completely filled. This effectively prevents any moisture which may be present around the base of the structure being absorbed by the panel and permeating it above this point with resultant decay and damage. The remainder of the pocket is filled with the same cementitious mixture, indicated by 20, which surrounds the tile, a portion of this going into groove 11 and forming a key to hold it in place. The top of the foundation frame may be provided with a strip 21 of hardwood or other suitable .material having an overhanging lip 22 to serve as a guide in setting the top row of tile. A counter top 23 is supported by the panel and may be attached thereto by screws or other suitable means.

Fastened to the ends of the foundation frames are strips 24., similar to the strip 21 on top. These serve as a gauge for setting the tile and also provide a smooth and true surface where adjoining anels come together. By referring to ig. 4 it will be noted that the mortar used in filling in about the tile is carried out flush with the surface of these strips. Thus, when the panels are set up, there will be only a line visible at the point of juncture and no additional mortar need be applied to simulate the appearance of continuity.

On the back of each anel, near one end, a numberof hooks 26, w ich may be of iron, are attached by screws 27. On the opposite end of each panel, also on the back, is a corresponding number of screws 28, adapted to be engaged by hooks 26. These screws and books may be laced when the panel is made, being located by a jig to ensure ease of assembling the panels into the completed structure. Intermediate the ends of the hooks are holes for additional screws 29 which are applied after the panels are hooked togetherin place and serve'to firmly fasten them together.

These panels can be made in any desired length, from perhaps 2", when they become pilasters, to as long as can be conveniently handled. Corner pieces can also be made, in which a bend of any number-of de ees may be included. In practice it has een found advantageousto make panels of certain stock lengths, from the verynarrow pilasters to about six feet, and corner pieces with narrow faces; from these any length of counter can be built, the necessary panels being shipped, complete and ready for erection to the desired place.

What I claim is:

1. A structure comprising a panel, said panel having a wooden foundation frame, a facing of ceramic tiles and a non-expansible cushion means interposed between said tiles and said frame and joining the latter.

2. A structure comprising a panel,-said panel having a non-expansible wooden back, flexible attachment member, and hard tiles idhesively mounted on said attachment mem- 3. A structure comprising a panel, said panel having a foundation frame and a facing of hard tiles, the ends of said foundation frame being provided with strips overlapping the tiles and adapted to maintain a smooth and true surface thereon.

4. A panel comprising a non-expansible back, a flexible non-expansible attachment member secured thereto, with cushioning means between, and hard tiles adhesively mounted on said attachment member.

5. A panel comprising a non-expansible back, a flexible non-expansible attachment member secured thereto, with cushioning means between, tiles adhesively mounted on said attachment member, and means at an edge of said panel to check lateral absorption of moisture by said back.

6. A panel comprising a non-expansible back, a flexible non-expansible attachment member secured thereto, with cushioning means between, hard tiles-adhesively mounted on. said attachment member, and strips along edges of said back overlapping said tiles to form a gauge for mounting said tiles.

,7. A panel comprising a non-expansible back a flexible non-expansible attachment mem rsecuredthereto, hard tiles adhesively mounted on said attachment member, means at an edgeof said panel to check lateral absorption of moisture by said back, and strips along edges of said back overlappin said tiles to form a gauge for mounting said tiles.

8. A panel comprising a non-expansible' back, a flexible non-expansible attachment member secured thereto, .with' cushioning means between, hard tiles adhesively mounted on said attachment member, means at an,

edge of said panel to check absorption of moisture by said back, and strips along edges of said back overlapping said tiles to form a gauge for mounting said tiles.

9. A anel comprising a back, said back being 0 wood rendered non-ex ansible by having kerfs extending substanti y parallel with its grain, a flexible, nonansible attachment member secured to said back,

' cushioning means between said member and back, and tiles mounted on'said attachment member.

10. A panel comprisinga back, a flexible nonexpansible attachment member secured thereto, tiles mounted on said attachment member and means whereby the absorption of moisture by said back or said attachment member is' substantially checked, said means comprising a layer of waterproof compound covering the lower edge of said attachment member and filling a kerf extending longitudinally of the back near its lower edge.

In witness that I claim the fore oing I have hereunto subscribed my name t v is 2nd day of December, 1926.

' 3 unis H. OEDERQUIST. 

